The company and its routes
Adler-Schiffe was founded in 1950 and is based in Westerland on Sylt. For North Frisia the company is the sideways link: while the W.D.R. runs the year-round service from the mainland, Adler-Schiffe connects the islands and Halligen with each other - and only in the summer half-year.
What Adler-Schiffe runs
The company calls at Hörnum on Sylt, Wittdün on Amrum, Wyk on Föhr, Hooge, Pellworm and Nordstrand, plus Heligoland. Those ports add up to a dense network: 42 of the region's 48 directional routes belong to the company. Some are genuine scheduled sailings, others through tickets with a transfer at one of the islands in between.
Which connection runs direct and which needs a transfer is set out on the individual island pages.
The season is what matters
The service runs from late March to early November. After that the connections between islands and Halligen drop out of the timetable until the company publishes the new season in spring. Anyone wanting to move between the islands in winter depends on the year-round W.D.R. routes and usually travels via Dagebüll.
Fleet
The North Frisian island routes are worked mainly by the MS Adler-Express and the MS Adler Rüm Hart, a catamaran chartered from the W.D.R. In total the company's fleet numbers around 30 passenger vessels, most of them in seasonal service. Beyond North Frisia, Adler-Schiffe operates on the North Sea and the Baltic; since 2019 it has run Adler & Eils together with Reederei Cassen Eils for the Heligoland crossings from Büsum.
FAQ
When does Adler-Schiffe sail in North Frisia?+
In the summer half-year. The season starts in late March and ends in early November, after which there are no sailings between the islands and Halligen. The current picture is in the timetable.
Which islands does Adler-Schiffe connect?+
Are these all direct sailings?+
No. Many are sold as through tickets but operated with a transfer, and in the timetable data no single ship covers the whole journey.
Can I take my car?+
No. Adler-Schiffe carries passengers on these routes. If you need to bring a vehicle, use the year-round W.D.R. car ferries from Dagebüll.
Does Adler-Schiffe sail outside North Frisia?+
Yes. The company operates on both the North Sea and the Baltic, including off Rügen and Usedom and on the Kiel Canal. This page covers only the North Frisian routes.